A proposed tax on off-brand cigarettes squeaked through a Senate
committee Thursday.

The Regulated Industries Committee passed the bill (SB 2112) 7-5.
The 50 cents-a-pack tax would be levied on cigarettemakers that
did not participate in a landmark tobacco settlement with Florida.
Under that settlement with five major companies, Florida gets $11.3-billion
over 25 years for health care programs.

Smaller tobacco companies, which have seen their market share increase
sixfold in recent years, now pay nothing to the state. The bill
pits the five big companies against myriad small companies.

"Lobbyists are hanging from the rafters like bats," said
lobbyist Mac Stipanovich, who represents Brown & Williamson,
which supports the bill.

Republican Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland, the bill's sponsor, put
it in business terms.

"We are partners in a joint venture with tobacco companies
to remedy some of the damage to the public health system by cigarette
smoking," she said.

Several of the smaller companies, including Commonwealth, Dosal
and American Tobacco, said they might be willing to pay the tax
if it also were levied against the big companies.

The bill is still pending in three other Senate committees. Sen.
Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, voted for the bill.